Financial Topics Archives | Page 401 of 800

Nov

2023

Class A vs Class B vs Class C Shares, Explained

By Anna Davies | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Terminology | Comments Off

Broadly speaking, Class A, Class B, and Class C shares are different categories of company that have different voting rights and different levels of access to distributions and dividends. Companies may use these tiers so that certain key shareholders, such as founders or executives, have more voting power than ordinary shareholders. These shareholders also may have priority on the company’s profits and assets, and may have different access to dividends.

Not all companies have alternate stock classes. And what can make share categories even more complicated is that while the classifications are common, each company can define their stock classes, meaning that they can vary from company to company. That makes it even more important for investors to know exactly what they’re getting when they purchase a certain type of stock. Understanding how different share classes typically differ can help when making investment decisions or analyzing business news.

Key Points

• Class A, Class B, and Class C shares are different categories of company stock with varying voting rights and access to dividends.

• Companies may use different share classes to give certain shareholders more voting power and priority on profits.

• Share classes can vary from company to company, making it important for investors to understand the specific terms and differences.

• Class A shares generally have more voting power and higher priority for dividends, while Class B shares are common shares with no preferential treatment.

• Class C shares can refer to shares given to employees or alternate share classes available to public investors, with varying restrictions and voting rights.

Why Companies Have Different Types of Stock Shares

When a company goes public, they are selling portions of their company, known as stocks, to shareholders.

Shareholders own a portion of the company’s assets and profits and have a say in how the company is governed. To mitigate risk and retain majority control of the company, a company can restrict the amount of stock they sell and retain majority ownership in the company. Or they can create different shareholder classes with different rights.

By creating multiple shareholder classes when they go public, a company can ensure that executives maintain control of the company and have more influence over business decisions. For example, while ordinary shareholders, or Class B shareholders, may have one vote per share owned, individuals with executive shares, or Class A shares, may have 100 votes per share owned. Executives also may get first priority of profits, which can be important in the case of an acquisition or closure, where there is only a finite amount of profit.

Different stock classes can also reward early investors. For example, some companies may designate Class A investors as those who invested with the company prior to a certain time period, such as a merger. These investors may have more votes per share and rights to dividends than Class B investors. A company’s charter, perspective, and bylaws should outline the differences between the classes.

Class differentiation has become more critical in creating a portfolio in recent years because investors have access to different classes in a way they may not have had access in the past. For example, mutual funds frequently divide their shares into A, B, and C class shares based on the type of investor they want to attract.

💡 Quick Tip: Before opening an investment account, know your investment objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance. These fundamentals will help keep your strategy on track and with the aim of meeting your goals.

The Different Types of Shares

Just like there are different types of stock, there are different types of shareholders. Because different stock classes have such different terms, depending on the company, investors may use additional terminology to describe the stock they hold. This can include:

Preferred shares

Investors who buy preferred shares may not have voting rights, but may have access to a regular dividend that may not be available to shareholders of common stock.

Common shares

Sometimes called “ordinary shares,” common shares are stocks bought and measured on the market. Owners have voting rights. They may have dividends and access to profits, though they may come after other investors, such as executive shareholders and preferred shareholders have been paid.

Nonvoting shares

These are typically offered by private companies or as part of a compensation package to employees. Companies may use non voting shares so employees and former employees don’t have an outsize influence in company decision-making, or so that power remains consolidated with the executive board and outside shareholders. Some companies create a separate class of stock, Class C stock, that comes without voting rights and that may be less expensive than other classes.

Executive shares

Typically, these shares are held by founders or company executives. Their stock may have outsize voting rights and may also have restrictions on the ability to sell the shares. Executive shares usually do not trade on the public markets.

Advisory shares

Often offered to advisors or large investors of a company, these shares may have preferred rights and do not trade on public markets.
Recommended: Shares vs. Stocks: Differences to Know

What Are Class A Shares?

While the specific attributes of Class A shares depend on the company, they generally come with more voting power and a higher priority for dividends and profit in the event of liquidation. Class A shares may be more expensive than Class B shares, or may not be available to the general public.

Many companies can have different stock tiers that trade at different prices. For instance, Company X may have Class A stock that regularly trades at hundreds of thousands of dollars while its Class B stock may trade for hundreds of dollars per share. Class B stockholders may also only have a small percentage of the vote that a Class A stockholder has. And while Class A stockholders might be able to convert their shares into Class B shares, a Class B shareholder may not be able to convert their shares into Class A shares.

Many of the tech companies that have gone public in recent years have also used a dual-share class system.

In some cases, shareholders are not allowed to trade their Class A shares, so they have a conversion that allows the owner to convert them into Class B, which they can sell or trade. Executives may also be able to sell their shares in a secondary offering, following the IPO.

💡 Quick Tip: Distributing your money across a range of assets — also known as diversification — can be beneficial for long-term investors. When you put your eggs in many baskets, it may be beneficial if a single asset class goes down.

What Are Class B Shares?

Often companies refer to their Class B shares as “common shares” or “ordinary shares,” (But occasionally, companies flip the definition and have Class A shares designated as common shares and Class B shares as founder and executive shares). Investors can buy and sell common shares on a public stock exchange, where, typically, one share equals one vote. Class B shares carry no preferential treatment when it comes to dividing profits or dividends.

What Are Class C Shares?

Some companies also offer Class C shares, which they may give to employees as part of their compensation package. These shares may have specific restrictions, such as an inability to trade the shares.

Class C shares also may also refer to alternate share classes available to public investors. Often priced lower than Class A shares and with restrictions on voting rights, these shares may be more accessible to larger groups of investors. But this is not always the case. For example, Alphabet has Class A and Class C shares. Both tend to trade at similar prices.

The difference between Class C and common stock shares can be subtle. It’s important to note that these stock classes vary depending on the company. So doing research and understanding exactly which type of shares you’re buying is key before you commit to purchasing a certain class of stock.

Class A vs Class B vs Class C Shares

What Are Dual Class Shares?

Companies that offer more than one class of shares have “dual class shares.” This is a fairly common practice, and some companies offer dual class shares that automatically convert to a common share with voting privilege at a set period of time.

These may be startups who go public through IPO and do not want public investors to have a say in the company’s decision-making. There has been controversy about companies offering two share classes of stock to the public, with detractors concerned that multiple share classes may lead to governance issues, such as reduced accountability. But others argue that multiple share classes can be an asset for a public company, leading to improved performance.

The Takeaway

Class A, Class B, and Class C shares have different voting rights and different levels of access to distributions and dividends. It can be difficult to determine which investment class is the best option for you if you’re deciding to invest in a public company that offers multiple share classes. Beyond market price, understanding how the stock will function in your overall portfolio as well as your personal investing philosophy can help guide you choose the best share class for you.

For example, investors who may be looking for shorter-term investments may choose a stock class without voting privileges. Other investors who want to be active in corporate governance may prefer share classes that come with voting rights. And some investors may be looking for stocks that provide guaranteed dividends, which may guide their decision toward one class of shares.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

You may also be interested in:

Examining the Different Types of Stocks

Preferred Stock vs. Common Stock

Shares vs Stocks: What’s the Difference?

Photo credit: iStock/g-stockstudio

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INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

Nov

2023

Strike Price, Explained: Definition and Examples

Strike Price: What It Means for Options Trading

By Rebecca Lake | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

In options trading, a strike price represents the price at which an investor can buy or sell a derivative contract. An option strike price can also be referred to as an exercise price or a grant price, as it comes into play when an investor is exercising the option contract they’ve purchased.

Strike price can determine the value of an option, and how much or how little an investor stands to gain by exercising option contracts. Trading options can potentially generate higher rewards for investors, though it can entail taking more risk than individual stocks. Understanding strike price and how they’re set is key to developing a successful options trading strategy.

Key Points

• Strike price is the price at which an investor can buy or sell a derivative contract.

• The strike price determines the value of an option and the potential gain for the investor.

• Strike prices are set when options contracts are written and can vary for different contracts.

• There are different types of options, including calls and puts, which have different strike prices.

• Understanding strike price is crucial for developing a successful options trading strategy.

What Is a Strike Price?

An option is a contract that gives the owner or buyer of the option the right to buy or sell a particular security on or before a specific date, at a predetermined price. In options trading terminology, this price is called the strike price or the exercise price.

Strike prices are commonly used in derivatives trading, a derivative draws its value from an underlying investment. In the case of options contracts, this can be a stock, bond, commodity or other type of security or index.

Further, Options contracts can trade European-style or American-style. With European-style options, investors can only exercise them on their expiration date. American-style options can be exercised any time up until the expiration date. This in itself doesn’t affect strike price for options contracts.

There are two basic types of options: calls and puts. With either type of option, the strike price is set at the time the options contract is written. This strike price then determines the value of the option to the investor should they choose to move ahead with exercising the option and buying or selling the underlying asset.

💡 Quick Tip: Look for an online brokerage with low trading commissions as well as no account minimum. Higher fees can cut into investment returns over time.

Calls

A call option conveys the right to a purchaser to buy shares of an underlying stock or other security at a set strike price.

Puts

A put option conveys the right to to a purchaser to sell shares of an underlying stock or other security at a set strike price. This is one way that investors can short a stock.

Examples of Strike Price in Options Trading

Having an example to follow can make it easier to understand the concept of strike prices and how it affects the value of a security when trading option contracts. When trading options, traders must select the strike price and length of time they’ll have before exercising an option.

The following examples illustrate how strike price works when buying or selling call and put options, respectively.

Buying a Call

Call options give a purchaser the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a security at a specific price. At the same time, the seller of the call option must sell shares to the investor exercising the option at the strike price.

Let’s say you hold a call option to purchase 100 shares of XYZ stock at $50 per share. You believe the stock’s price will increase over time. This belief eventually pans out as the stock rises to $70 per share thanks to a promising quarterly earnings call. At this point, you could exercise your option to buy shares of the stock at the $50 strike price. The call option seller would have to sell those shares to you at that price.

The upside here is that you’re purchasing the stock at a discount, relative to its actual market price. You could then turn around and sell the shares you purchased for $50 each at the new higher price point of $70 each. This allows you to collect a $20 per share profit, less any trading fees owed to your brokerage and the premium you paid to purchase the call contract.

Buying a Put

Put options give purchasers the right, but not the obligation, to sell a security at a specific strike price. The seller of a put option has an obligation to buy shares from an investor who exercises the option.

So, assume that you hold a put option to sell 100 shares of XYZ stock at $50 per share. Your gut feeling is that the stock’s price is going to decline in the next few months. The stock’s price drops to $40 per share so you decide to exercise the option. This allows you to make a profit of $10 per share, since you’re selling the shares for more than their current market price.

Writing a Covered Call

A covered call is an options trading strategy that can be useful in bull and bear market environments. This strategy involves doing two things:

• Writing a call option for a security

• Owning an equivalent number of shares of that same security

Writing covered calls is a way to hedge your bets when trading options. You can possibly generate income by writing a call option from the premiums investors pay to purchase it. Premiums paid by a call option buyer are nonrefundable, so you get to keep these payments even if the investor decides not to exercise the option later. Covered calls can offer some downside protection if you’re waiting for the market price of the underlying asset to rise.

So, say own 100 shares of XYZ stock, currently trading at $25 per share. You write a call option for 100 shares of that same stock with a strike price of $30. You then collect the premium from the investor who buys the option.

One of two things can happen at this point: If the stock’s price remains below the $30 stock price then the option will expire worthless. You still keep the premium for writing it and you still own your shares of stock. On the other hand, if the stock’s price shoots up to $35. The investor exercises the option, meaning you have to sell them those 100 shares. You still collect the premium but you might have been better off holding onto the stock, then selling it as the price climbed.

Moneyness

Moneyness describes an option’s strike price relative to its market price. There are three ways to measure the moneyness of an option:

In the Money

Options are in the money when they have intrinsic value. A call option is in the money when the market price of the underlying security is above the strike price. A put option is in the money when the market price of the underlying security is below the strike price.

At the Money

An option is at the money when its market price and strike price are the same.

Out of the Money

An out-of-the-money option has no intrinsic value. A call option is out of the money if the market price of the underlying security is below the strike price. A put option is out of the money when the market price of the underlying security is above the strike price.

Understanding moneyness is important for deciding when to exercise options and when they may be at risk of expiring worthless.

How Is Strike Price Calculated?

The strike price of an option contract is set when the contract is written. Strike prices may be determined by the exchange they’re traded on (like the Chicago Board Options Exchange). Options contract writers may use the security’s closing price from the previous day as a baseline for determining the strike price while taking into account volatility and trading volume.

A writer can issue multiple option contracts for the same security with varying strike prices. For example, you might see five option contracts for the same stock with strike prices of $90, $92.50, $95, $97.50 and $100. This allows investors an opportunity to select varying strike prices when purchasing calls or put options for the same stock.

Note, however, that writing options in this fashion will likely result in those calls being uncovered, unless the writer owns enough shares to cover all of the options issued — that can mean incurring significant risk.

How Do You Choose a Strike Price?

When deciding which options contracts to buy, strike price is an important consideration. Stock volatility and the passage of time can affect an option’s moneyness and your potential profits or less from exercising the option.

As you compare strike prices for call or put options, consider:

• Your personal risk tolerance

• Where the underlying security is trading, relative to the option’s strike price

• How long you have to exercise the option

You can also consider using various options trading strategies to manage risk. That includes covered calls as well as long calls, long puts, short puts and married puts. Learning more about how to trade options can help you apply these strategies to maximize returns while curbing the potential for losses.

What Happens When an Option Hits the Strike Price?

When an option hits the strike price it’s at the money. This means it has no intrinsic value as the strike price and market price are the same. There’s no incentive for an investor to exercise an option that’s at the money as there’s nothing to be gained from either a call or put option. In this scenario, the option will expire worthless.

If you’re the purchaser of an option that expires worthless, you would lose the money you paid for the premium to buy the contract. If you’re the writer of the option you would profit from the premium charged to the contract buyer.

💡 Quick Tip: Options can be a cost-efficient way to place certain trades, because you typically purchase options contracts, not the underlying security. That said, options trading can be risky, and best done by those who are not entirely new to investing.

The Takeaway

Strike price is a critical concept for investors to know, especially if they’re trading or otherwise dealing with options as a part of their investing strategy. The strike price simply refers to the price that a purchaser can buy or sell an underlying security. Again, options can be fairly high-level, and may not be appropriate for all investors.

If you’re interested in options trading, getting started isn’t complicated. You simply need to choose an online brokerage that offers options trading. When comparing brokerages be sure to check the fees you’ll pay to trade options.

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

Photo credit: iStock/Paul Bradbury

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

Nov

2023

When Can I Retire This Formula Will Help You Know_780x440

When Can I Retire Calculator

By Pam O’Brien | Budgeting & Goals, invest, Investing, Life & Career, Preparing for Retirement | No Comments

When it comes to figuring out when you can retire, there are a number of factors to consider: Social Security, inflation, and health care costs.

Thankfully, there’s retirement calculators for figuring out these costs, which might help you plan for the future. But first, to decide when you can retire, determine at what age you want to retire and then see how that decision affects your finances.

Key Points

• Factors to consider when deciding when to retire include Social Security benefits, inflation, and healthcare costs.

• The full retirement age for Social Security benefits varies based on birth year.

• Early retirement can result in reduced Social Security benefits, while delaying retirement can increase monthly benefits.

• Different retirement accounts have specific rules for withdrawals, such as Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs.

• Other sources of retirement income to consider include part-time work, pensions, inheritance, and rental income.

When Can You Get Full Social Security Benefits?

As you consider when to apply for Social Security, you’ll want to understand at what age the government allows people to retire with full Social Security benefits. Not only that, at what age can people start withdrawing from their retirement accounts without facing penalties? For Social Security, the rules are based on your birth year.

The Social Security Administration has a retirement age calculator . For example, people born between 1943 and 1954 could retire with full Social Security benefits at age 66.

Meanwhile, those born in 1955 could retire at age 66 and two months, and those born in 1956 could retire at age 66 and four months. Those born in or after 1960 can retire at age 67 to receive full benefits. This can help with your retirement planning.

Social Security Early Retirement

A recipient will be penalized if they retire before full retirement age. The earlier a person retires, the less they’ll receive in Social Security.

Let’s use Jane Doe as an example and say she was born in 1960, so full retirement age is 67. If she retires at age 66, she’ll receive 93.3% of Social Security benefits; age 65 will get Jane 86.7%. If she retires on her 62nd birthday — the earliest she can receive Social Security — she’ll only receive 70% of earnings.

Here’s a retirement planner table for those born in 1960, which shows how one’s benefits will be reduced with early retirement.

How Early Retirement Affects Your Social Security Benefits

Source: Social Security Administration

Social Security Late Retirement

If a person wants to keep working until after full retirement age, they could earn greater monthly benefits. This is helpful to know when choosing your retirement date.

For example, if the magic retirement number is 66 years but retirement is pushed back to 66 and one month, then Social Security benefits rise to 100.7% per month. So if your monthly benefit was supposed to be $1,000, but you wait until 66 years and one month, then your monthly allotment would increase to $1,007.

If retirement is pushed back to age 70, earnings go up to 132% of monthly benefits. But no need to calculate further: Social Security benefits stop increasing once a person reaches age 70. Here is a SSA table on delayed retirement .

💡 Quick Tip: You can’t just sit on the money you save in an IRA account forever. The government requires withdrawals each year, starting at age 73 (for those born in 1950 or later). These are called required minimum distributions or RMDs.

¹Terms and conditions apply. Roll over a minimum of $20K to receive the 1% match offer. Matches on contributions are made up to the annual limits.

Other Retirement Income to Consider

In retirement, you may have other income sources that can help you support your lifestyle and pay the bills. These might include:

Part-Time Work

Working after retirement by getting a part-time job, especially if it’s one you enjoy, could help cover your retirement expenses. And as long as you have reached your full retirement age (which is based on your year of birth, as noted above), your Social Security benefits will not be reduced, no matter what your earnings are.

However, if you retire early, you need to earn under an annual limit, which is $21,240 in 2023, to keep your full benefits. If you earn more than that, you’ll lose $1 in Social Security benefits for every $2 you earn over the limit.

Pension

A pension, also sometimes known as a defined benefits plan, from your employer is usually based on how long you worked at your company, how much you earned, and when you stopped working. You’ll need to be fully vested, which typically means working at the company for five years, to collect the entire pension. Check with the HR rep at your company to get the full details about your pension.

A pension generally gives you a set monthly sum for life or a lump sum payment when you retire.

Inheritance

If you inherit money from a relative, these funds could also help you pay for your retirement. And fortunately, receiving an inheritance won’t affect your Social Security benefits, because Social Security is based on money you earn.

Rental Income

Another potential money-earning idea: You could rent out a home you own, or rent out just the upper floors of the house you live in, for some extra income in retirement. Like an inheritance, rental income will not affect your social security benefits.

Major Expenses in Retirement

It’s important to draw up a budget for retirement to help determine how much money you might need. The amount may be higher than you realize. These are some of the major expenses retirees commonly face.

Healthcare

For most people, healthcare costs increase as they get older, as medical problems can become more serious or pervasive. According to Fidelity, the average amount that a couple who are both age 65 will spend on healthcare during their first year of retirement is $12,300.

Housing

Your mortgage, home insurance, and the costs of maintaining your house can be a significant monthly and yearly expense. In fact, Americans aged 65 and older spent $16,880 annually on housing during the years from 2016 to 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Travel

If you’re planning to take trips in retirement, or even just drive to visit family, transportation costs can quickly add up. From 2016 to 2020, people over age 65 averaged about $7,062 in transportation costs a year.

When Can You Withdraw From Retirement Accounts?

Now let’s look at retirement accounts. Each type of account has different rules about when money can be taken out.

If a Roth IRA account has existed for at least five years, withdrawals from the account are usually okay after age 59 ½ without consequences. Taking out money earlier or withdrawing money from a Roth IRA that’s been open for fewer than five years could result in paying penalties and/or taxes.

There is a little wiggle room. Retirement withdrawal rules do have exceptions for issues like disability or educational expenses, and there is an option to withdraw money early and pay taxes or penalties.

If a person is at least 59 ½ and has a Roth IRA that is less than five years old, taxes will need to be paid upon withdrawal but not penalties. Taxes or penalties might not need to be paid at age 59 ½ and if the Roth IRA has been open for five years or more.

People with a traditional IRA can make withdrawals from ages 59 ½ to 72 without being penalized. The government will charge a 10% penalty on withdrawals before age 59.5, and depending on location, a state penalty tax might also be charged.

People with 401(k)s can typically retire by age 55 and make withdrawals without receiving a penalty. People with either a traditional IRA or 401(k) must start making withdrawals by age 72 or face a hefty penalty.

💡 Quick Tip: Did you know that opening a brokerage account typically doesn’t come with any setup costs? Often, the only requirement to open a brokerage account — aside from providing personal details — is making an initial deposit.

The Takeaway

Deciding at what age to retire is a personal choice. However, by planning ahead for some common expenses, and understanding the age at which you can get full Social Security benefits, you can use a retirement calculator formula to figure out how much money you’ll need each year to live on. And you can supplement your Social Security benefits with other forms of income and by making smart decisions about savings and investments.

Invest with as little as $5 with a SoFi Active Investing account.

FAQ

How do I calculate my retirement age?

To calculate your full retirement age, which is the age you can receive your full retirement benefits, you can use the Social Security administration’s retirement age calculator . Essentially, if you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. For those born between 1954 and 1959, the full retirement age is between 66 and 67, depending exactly how old they are when they retire (such as age 66 and two months). And for those born between 1943 and 1954, full retirement age is 66.

The earlier you retire before your full retirement age, the less you’ll receive in benefits. Conversely, the longer you keep working, up to age 70, the more you can receive.

Can you legally retire before 55?

Yes, you can legally retire before age 55. However, your Social Security benefits typically won’t kick in until age 62. And even then, because you’ll be tapping into those benefits before your full retirement age of 66 or 67, you’ll get a reduced amount, or just 70%, of your benefits.

There is something called the rule of 55 that allows you to withdraw funds from a 401(k) or 403(b) at age 55 without paying a penalty. That may be something to look into if you’re planning to retire early.

Can you retire after 20 years of work?

In some lines of work, you can retire after 20 years on the job and likely get a pension. This includes those in the military, firefighters, police officers, and certain government employees.

That said, anyone in any industry can retire at any time. However, Social Security benefits don’t typically begin until age 62.

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

Nov

2023

Investment Opportunities in 2024

By Samuel Becker | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

Investment opportunities are different ways to put your money to work, and they can include any number of things, such as buying assets and waiting for them to appreciate, or investing in real estate or a business opportunity.

There are varying degrees of risks and potential rewards with each option, but if you’re looking to put your money to work this year, you may want to consider a range of ideas.

Every idea has to be vetted, of course, and it’s important to do your due diligence before investing. Only you can decide which opportunities make sense, given your goals and long term plans.

Key Points

• Investment opportunities include buying assets, investing in real estate, or investing in a business opportunity.

• Each opportunity comes with varying degrees of risk and potential rewards.

• Examples of investment opportunities include bonds, real estate or REITs, ETFs and passive investing, automated investing, and investing in startups.

• Buying precious metals like gold and silver are also potential investment opportunities.

• Investors should do their due diligence and consider their goals and long-term plans before investing.

What Is an Investment Opportunity?

An investment opportunity is exactly what it sounds like: It’s an opportunity, but not a guarantee, that you can put your money into a stock, a mutual fund, a new business, a type of cryptocurrency, that may offer the potential for growth.

While there are countless options for investors, investing typically involves using a brokerage account or investing platform to buy securities. There is a wide range of financial products on the market, and a good percentage of them can be purchased using a brokerage account.

Investments can be volatile, or at least subject to change. Virtually all investments rise and fall in value. Some are more reactive to economic issues or global politics. For that reason, it’s often useful for investors to evaluate the opportunities that may be trending in a certain year, bearing in mind all the relevant risks and investment costs.

6 Investment Opportunities to Potentially Build Wealth

7 Potential Ways to Invest and Build Wealth

1. Bonds and Bond Funds

One common conservative investment strategy is to seek a small-but-safe return from bonds.

Governments, municipalities, and companies issue bonds to investors who lend them money for a set period of time. In exchange, the issuer pays interest over the life of the loan, and returns the principal when the bond “matures.” Individuals can buy them on bond markets or on exchanges.

Upon maturity, the bond-holder gets their original investment (known as the principal) back in full. In other words, a bond is a loan, with the investor loaning another party money, in exchange for interest payments for a set period of time.

Different Types of Bonds

There are many different types of bonds. The most common, and generally considered to be the lowest-risk category of bonds might be the U.S. Treasury bonds, typically called treasuries.

The Treasury regularly auctions off both short-term and long-term Treasury bonds and notes. These bonds are, generally, thought to be one of the safest investments on the market, as they’re guaranteed by the U.S. government. The only way for investors to lose their entire investment would be for the U.S. government to become insolvent, which has never occurred.

Governments are not the only entities that issue bonds. Corporations can also raise money by offering corporate bonds. These types of bonds tend to be riskier, but they often pay a higher rate of interest (known as the yield).

A bond’s price is the inverse of its yield. This means that as the price of a bond falls, its yield goes up (and vice versa).

For new investors, one of the simpler ways to gain exposure to bonds might be through various exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are invested in bonds.

Other ETFs may include some bonds as part of a broader bundle of securities.

💡 Recommended: What Is Capital Appreciation?

2. Real Estate or REITs

Real estate is the largest asset class in the world, with a market cap well into the hundreds of trillions of dollars.

When thinking about investing in real estate, residential properties may be one of the first things that comes to mind, such as buying a single family home. But owning property, like a home, can come with an array of responsibilities, liabilities, and expenses. In that way, it’s different from owning a stock or bond.

Annual property taxes, maintenance and upkeep, and paying back mortgage interest can add to the cost of treating a home as an investment. It’s also worth remembering that residential properties can appreciate or depreciate in value, too.

Other real-estate investment options involve owning multi-family rental properties (like apartment buildings or duplexes), commercial properties like shopping malls, or office buildings. These tend to require large initial investments, but those who own them could reap significant returns from rental income. (Naturally, few investments guarantee returns and rental demands and pricing can change over time).

For people with smaller amounts of capital, investing in physical real estate might not be a realistic or desirable option. Fortunately for these investors, some investment opportunities can provide exposure to real estate without the hassle and liability of owning physical property. One common way to do this is through Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs.

Like other investments, there are pros and cons of REITs, but companies can be classified as REITs if they derive at least 75% of their income from the operation, maintenance, or mortgaging of real estate. Additionally, 75% of a REITs assets must also be held in the form of real property or loans directly tied to them.

There are many different types of REITs. Some examples of the types of properties that different REITs might specialize in include:

• Residential real estate

• Data centers

• Commercial real estate

• Health care

Shares of a REIT can be purchased and held in a brokerage account, just like a stock or ETF. To buy some, it’s often as simple as looking up a specific REIT’s ticker symbol.

REITs are popular among passive-income investors, as they tend to have high dividend yields because they are required by law to pass on 90% of their amount of their income to shareholders.

Historically, REITs have often provided better returns than fixed-income assets like bonds, although REITs do tend to be higher-risk investments.

3. ETFs and Passive Investing

Passive investing, which refers to exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, and other instruments that track an index and do not have an active manager, have become increasingly popular over the years.

• Weighing the merits of passive vs. active investing is an ongoing debate, with strong advocates on both sides. In recent years, assets held in passive instruments have outpaced active funds.

Passive investing tends to be lower cost compared with active investing, and over time these strategies tend to do well.

• An ETF is a security that usually tracks a specific industry or index by investing in a number of stocks or other financial instruments.

ETFs are commonly referred to as one type of passive investing, because most ETFs track an index. Some ETFs are actively managed, but most are not.

These days, there are ETFs for just about everything — no matter your investing goal, interest area, or industry you wish you invest in. Small-cap stocks, large-cap stocks, international stocks, short-term bonds, long-term bonds, corporate bonds, and more.

Some potential advantages of ETFs include lower costs and built-in diversification. Rather than having to pick and choose different stocks, investors can choose shares of a single ETF to buy, gaining some level of ownership in the fund’s underlying assets.

Thus investing in ETFs could make the process of buying into different investments easier, while potentially increasing portfolio diversification (i.e., investing in distinct types of assets in order to manage risk).

4. Automated Investing

Another form of investing involves automated portfolios called robo advisors, as well as target-date mutual funds, which are often used in retirement planning.

An Intro to Robo Advisors

Typically, a robo advisor is an online investment service that provides you with a questionnaire so you can input your preferences: e.g. your financial goals, your personal risk tolerance, and time horizon. Using these parameters, as well as investing best practices, the robo advisor employs a sophisticated algorithm to recommend a portfolio that suits your goals.

These automated portfolios are pre-set, and they can tilt toward an aggressive allocation or a conservative one, or something in between. They’re typically comprised of low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These online portfolios are designed to rebalance over time, using technology and artificial intelligence to do so.

You can use a robo investing as you would any account — for retirement, as a taxable investment account, or even for your emergency fund — and you typically invest using automatic deposits or contributions.

An Intro to Target-Date Funds

For investors who would rather “set it and forget it” than have to choose securities and manage investments over time, robo advisors could be one automated investment option. Target-date mutual funds, which are a type of mutual fund often used for retirement planning and college savings, also use technology to automate a certain asset allocation over time.

By starting out with a more aggressive allocation and slowly dialing back as years pass, the fund’s underlying portfolio may be able to deliver growth while minimizing risk. This ready-made type of fund can be appealing to those who have a big goal (like retirement or saving for college), and who don’t want the uncertainty or potential risk of managing their money on their own.

5. Gold and Silver

Investing in precious metals is another way to put your money to work.

Gold is one of the most valued commodities. For thousands of years, gold has been prized because it is scarce, difficult to obtain, has many practical uses, and does not rust, tarnish, or erode.

Silver has historically held a secondary role to gold, and today, serves more of an industrial role. For those looking to invest in physical precious metals, silver will be an affordable option.

Buying physical gold or bullion (which comes in coins and bars) isn’t the only way to invest in gold and silver. There are many related securities that allow investors to gain exposure to precious metals. There are ETFs that tend to track the prices of gold and silver, respectively. Other ETFs provide an easy vehicle for investing in gold and silver mining stocks. So, there are some different ways to invest in the field.

Companies that explore for and mine silver and gold tend to see their share prices increase in tandem with prices for the physical metals. But historically, mining stocks have outperformed simply holding metals by a factor of about 4-to-1 on average.

Gold, silver, and related securities are sometimes considered to be “safe havens,” meaning most investors perceive them as low risk. This asset class tends to perform well during times of crisis (and conversely tends to drop when the economy is going well), but past trends don’t guarantee that gold will perform one way or the other.

6. Investing in Startups

While gold is often considered to be one of the safer investments, startup investing is often considered to be one of the riskiest.

Whereas gold is a real asset almost certain to retain most or all of its value, startup investments are effectively bets on the potential of a new company, and that company might fail; in fact, there’s a good chance that it will. But it’s the high-risk, high-reward and potentially huge returns from startup investing that make it attractive to investors.

Imagine buying a little piece of a tech company when those companies were still in their infancy. When held throughout the years, an investment like that could grow enormously in value.

Angel investing and venture capital are two common ways that startups raise capital. They are both types of equity financing, whereby a business funds or expands its operations by offering investors a stake of ownership in the company. If the company does well, investors stand to profit. Because standard business loans tend to require some kind of assets as collateral (which newer companies, that might be information-based, likely do not have), raising funds in this way is sometimes the only solution startups have.

Venture capital is often associated with the tech industry, due to the large number of entrepreneurs in the industry who have turned to venture capital funds to start their businesses. This type of fund targets new companies and aims to help them grow to the next level.

Angel investing is similar to venture capital, but even riskier. An angel investor might be an individual who’s willing to help fund an otherwise struggling company.

Before running off to look for small companies to invest in, know that startup investing requires good business acumen, an eye for promising ideas, and high risk tolerance. In some cases, to, you may need to qualify as an “accredited investor” to invest in startups. Do a little homework, accordingly!

Average Rate of Return for the Investment Opportunities

Each of the aforementioned investment opportunities comes with its own set of caveats. For instance, it’s pretty much impossible to guess what types of returns you’d see from investing in ETFs without knowing the specific ETFs you’re investing in. The same holds true for cryptocurrencies, and other assets.

But for some of the previously discussed asset classes, there are some historical returns for different asset classes over the past decade, as of August 2022.

• U.S. Stock Market: 13.8%

• Bonds: 1.6%

• Real Estate: 8.8%

• Gold: 0.8%

Importance of Finding Good Investing Opportunities

There is no requirement to invest one’s money. But leaving your cash…in cash…can also be risky. No one wants their wealth eroded by inflation.

Though the global economy hadn’t seen serious inflation on a wide scale for decades until 2022, today’s rising prices effectively mean that the value of every dollar you own is diminished as time goes on.

As such, finding investment opportunities that present chances for your money to grow faster than the rate of inflation, while weighing all the appropriate risks, is a powerful incentive.

After all, some investments rise while others fall, and things change. That’s why investors need to be on the lookout for new and different opportunities.

The Takeaway

The investment opportunities described above are just some potential points of entry for investors in 2023. Investors can look to the stock, bond, or crypto markets for new ways to put their money to work — or consider active strategies vs. passive (i.e. index) strategies. They can look at commodities, like precious metals, or automated portfolios.

All these investment opportunities come with their own set of potential risks and rewards. There are no guarantees that choosing X over Y will increase your investment returns. It’s up to each investor to weigh these options, especially in light of current economic trends, such as inflation and rising rates.

SoFi Invest® helps individuals begin investing with ease, thanks to the secure, streamlined SoFi platform. When you set up an online investing account, you can choose from stocks, ETFs, and more — and you can get started with just a few dollars.

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

FAQ

What is the best investment opportunity right now?

The best investment opportunity at any given time will depend on the specific investor, and their individual goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Opportunities rise and fall over time, in reaction to economic and market trends, so investors should consider their personal preferences to determine what’s best for them.

What is the safest investment with the highest return?

Historically speaking, investing in a stock market index like the S&P 500 earns an average annual return of about 10% over time. But that’s just an average, and there are years when the market is down considerably. As such, it may not be “safe,” but over time, the market tends to bounce back.

Why are investment opportunities important?

Investing your money in the right ways can help it grow, and keep ahead of inflation. And because there are no guarantees for any one asset class or investment type, it helps to know where the opportunities lie so you can balance and/or diversify your own assets according to your own goals and time horizon.

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): Investors should carefully consider the information contained in the prospectus, which contains the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other relevant information. You may obtain a prospectus from the Fund company’s website or by email customer service at https://sofi.app.link/investchat. Please read the prospectus carefully prior to investing.
Shares of ETFs must be bought and sold at market price, which can vary significantly from the Fund’s net asset value (NAV). Investment returns are subject to market volatility and shares may be worth more or less their original value when redeemed. The diversification of an ETF will not protect against loss. An ETF may not achieve its stated investment objective. Rebalancing and other activities within the fund may be subject to tax consequences.
Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $25 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.

SOIN0423005

Nov

2023

Introduction to Fixed Income Securities

By Matthew Zeitlin | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off

Fixed income securities are a vital pool of investments that are an important part of investors’ strategies, whether they’re institution or individual investors. And while the public is more likely to hear about the ups and downs of the stock market on the news, the fixed income security market is worth trillions, and of vital importance to the overall financial system.

Understanding fixed income securities, and how they fit into an investing strategy, can be critical for investors of all stripes.

Key Points

• Fixed income securities are an important part of investors’ strategies and overall are worth trillions of dollars in the financial system.

• Fixed income securities, like bonds, offer preset payments that do not change and have a set maturity date.

• Advantages of fixed income securities might include lower risks, guaranteed returns, and potential tax benefits, while downsides include lower potential returns and interest rate risks.

• Fixed income securities differ from other securities in terms of their predictable income stream and potential for price appreciation.

• Other similar investments include preferred stocks, money market funds, and certificates of deposit (CDs).

What are Fixed Income Securities?

To understand fixed income securities and investing in fixed income securities, it’s important to understand what “fixed income” means, and how that designation sets these financial securities apart from other investments that can be bought and sold.

“Fixed income” refers to the structure of the security itself: fixed income securities like bonds return a preset payment that legally can not change, known as the interest, and also the principal, which is returned at a set time in the future, known as “maturity.”

And like other types of securities, they have their upsides and downsides, and potentially, a place in an investor’s portfolio. With that in mind, too, it can be a good idea for investors to know how to buy bonds.

💡 Quick Tip: Look for an online brokerage with low trading commissions as well as no account minimum. Higher fees can cut into investment returns over time.

Pros and Cons of Fixed Income Securities

Here’s a quick rundown of the advantages and disadvantages of fixed income securities for investors.

Pros of Fixed Income Securities

Perhaps the biggest advantage of fixed income securities is that they are relatively low-risk, and experience less price volatility compared to equities. They can also offer more or less guaranteed returns through regular interest payments (stocks, by comparison, offer no such guarantees other than perhaps dividends), and some of them may offer tax benefits or advantages, too.

Cons of Fixed Income Securities

Fixed income securities can have their downsides, too. For most investors, there are lower potential returns to be derived from fixed income securities (lower risk and lower returns). Given that they tend to be less volatile, too, there can be fewer opportunities to sell them for a sizable return. They can also be subject to things like interest rate risks, which may not apply to other types of securities.

How Fixed Income Securities Differ from Other Securities

The payments (dividends, potentially) from a fixed-income security, like a bond, are likely known in advance. Investors know what they’re getting, in other words, and can more or less depend on a fixed income stream. The trade-off, though, is that many of those same securities do not typically have the same potential for price appreciation as stocks, as discussed.

It’s worth noting, too, that some bonds are “callable” (versus non-callable). Callable bonds can be riskier for some investors as the issuer can “call” it, requiring an investor to perhaps reinvest their money at a different rate. So, in that sense, callable bonds may not be quite as “fixed” as they seem.

Utilizing Bonds as a Fixed Income Security

Bonds are the heavy hitters of the fixed income world. Bonds are, in effect, investments in the debt of a government or a corporation, or sometimes consumer debts like mortgages or auto loans.

Think of bonds vs. stocks like this: Because of their predictable yield, bonds are generally more low-risk than stocks, which have a value that can fluctuate minute to minute.

There are a few different types of bonds, each of which have their own unique attributes. It’s also worth noting that some bonds can be “callable” — meaning, the issuer can choose to repay investors the face value of the bond before the maturity date arrives. In those cases, interest is not always guaranteed.

Corporate bonds

There are trillions of dollars worth of corporate bonds outstanding that run the gamut from very safe, low-yield bonds issued by huge companies to the riskier, higher-yield bonds, issued by companies whose prospects for future earnings are more uncertain.

High-yield bonds used to be called “junk bonds.” These are bonds issued to fund companies that often don’t have long track records of steady profits or have fallen on tough times recently and thus have to pay more for the privilege of borrowing money.

While these bonds are considerably more risky than bonds in the so-called “blue chip” market, they also provide more opportunities for profits, both because their value tends to sway and that they have higher coupon payments.

Typically the easiest way for an individual or retail investor to invest in corporate bonds is to use an investment product like an exchange-traded fund, what’s known as a “fixed income” or bond ETF, specifically for bonds.

Know, too, that there are a multitude of investment funds on the market, many of which may include or use bond investments.

Government bonds

While the corporate bond market is almost unfathomably big, it’s actually a smaller portion of the world of bonds. Government bonds are issued by governments or public agencies that issue debt to fund their activities, and pay it off with either tax payments or a stream of fees that governments have special access to.

Whenever you hear about the “national debt” of a country, you’re hearing about a set of outstanding bonds that a country uses to cover the gap between taxes and spending. This concerns the federal government in the U.S. There’s also debt issued by states and local governments, some of which offers tax advantages for investors, and debt issued by government-affiliated agencies, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two housing finance corporations.

Debt issued by the federal government tends to have the lowest possible yield of any debt for its duration (meaning the time during which an investor gets the coupon payments), because it’s assumed by the market to be risk-free. (Think government savings bonds.) This is why corporations or institutional investors with a large amount of cash will sometimes buy government debt in order to earn something back but not risk their overall investment, compared to keeping it in cash.

💡 Quick Tip: Investment fees are assessed in different ways, including trading costs, account management fees, and possibly broker commissions. When you set up an investment account, be sure to get the exact breakdown of your “all-in costs” so you know what you’re paying.

Similar Investments to Fixed Income Securities

While bonds do most of the heavy lifting in the fixed income securities world, they’re not the only types of investments that behave in roughly the same way, or which can be used by investors to provide the same type of service in a portfolio. Here are some examples.

Dividend-paying or Preferred stocks

Preferred stocks may have fixed payouts like a bond and are given a “preference” over common stock, meaning that before dividends are paid to common stockholders, they need to be paid to preferred stockholders. Preferred stockholders are also prioritized when a company liquidates or goes out of business — the “senior debt,” aka bondholders, get paid out first, then the preferred stockholders, and finally the common stockholders get paid last.

Money market funds

Money market mutual funds are invested in short-term instruments, and investors can use them as a sort of buoy to try and maintain portfolio stability. These accounts typically invest in short-term debt investments that provide low yield but are low-risk as well. One way to think of a money market mutual fund is as a fixed income investment product that you can always sell out of and into at a stable price.

They can be used in a similar way to checking accounts but do not have the type of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance that bank products will have.

Certificates of Deposit (CDs)

One of the most well-known types of fixed income security, Certificates of deposit (CDs) may not seem like a “security” at all and are typically purchased through a bank, not a broker.

Unlike a bank account, however, CDs cannot be accessed for a set amount of time, which makes them more similar to traditional fixed income investments. Likewise, with a CD an investor gets a contractually obligated stream of payments that is predetermined when they purchase the security. It may be worth reading up the differences in bonds vs. CDs.

One unusual aspect of CDs is that they’re insured by the FDIC for up to $250,000, which can be attractive to some investors. They’re generally low-risk investments, too — but that lower risk tends to come with correspondingly low interest rates, making CDs a savings product more than an investment one.

Investing with SoFi

Fixed income securities like bonds, preferred stocks, money market accounts, and CDs offer steady payments and little to no income fluctuation. But with that low level of risk comes a generally low level of payoff. For investors who like knowing exactly what they’re getting, fixed income securities can be an asset to a portfolio.

The potential downside of investing in fixed income securities is lower potential returns, which may turn many investors off of them. However, depending on your investment strategy, they may play a huge role in your portfolio, too.

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

FAQ

Are fixed income securities debt or equity?

Fixed income securities are typically debt securities, which includes assets like bonds. Though they can sometimes be equities, like preferred stocks.

What are the risks of investing in fixed income securities?

The primary risks of investing in fixed income securities are increased chances for lower returns compared to other asset types, and risks associated with interest rate changes.

What is the difference between a bond and fixed income securities?

A bond is a type of fixed income security, so there isn’t really a difference – one is an umbrella term over the other.

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

Why Companies Have Different Types of Stock Shares

The Different Types of Shares

Preferred shares

Common shares

Nonvoting shares

Executive shares

Advisory shares

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What Are Class A Shares?

What Are Class B Shares?

What Are Class C Shares?

What Are Dual Class Shares?

The Takeaway

You may also be interested in:

What Is a Strike Price?

Calls

Puts

Examples of Strike Price in Options Trading

Buying a Call

Buying a Put

Writing a Covered Call

Moneyness

In the Money

At the Money

Out of the Money

How Is Strike Price Calculated?

How Do You Choose a Strike Price?

What Happens When an Option Hits the Strike Price?

The Takeaway

When Can You Get Full Social Security Benefits?

Social Security Early Retirement

Social Security Late Retirement

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Other Retirement Income to Consider

Part-Time Work

Pension

Inheritance

Rental Income

Major Expenses in Retirement

Healthcare

Housing

Travel

When Can You Withdraw From Retirement Accounts?

The Takeaway

FAQ

How do I calculate my retirement age?

Can you legally retire before 55?

Can you retire after 20 years of work?

What Is an Investment Opportunity?

6 Investment Opportunities to Potentially Build Wealth

1. Bonds and Bond Funds

Different Types of Bonds

2. Real Estate or REITs

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Access stock trading, options, alternative investments, IRAs, and more. Get started in just a few minutes.

3. ETFs and Passive Investing

4. Automated Investing

An Intro to Robo Advisors

An Intro to Target-Date Funds

5. Gold and Silver

6. Investing in Startups

Average Rate of Return for the Investment Opportunities

Importance of Finding Good Investing Opportunities

The Takeaway

FAQ

What is the best investment opportunity right now?

What is the safest investment with the highest return?

Why are investment opportunities important?

What are Fixed Income Securities?

Pros and Cons of Fixed Income Securities

Pros of Fixed Income Securities

Cons of Fixed Income Securities

How Fixed Income Securities Differ from Other Securities

Utilizing Bonds as a Fixed Income Security

Corporate bonds

Government bonds

Similar Investments to Fixed Income Securities

Dividend-paying or Preferred stocks

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